Chapter 7:

Patricia's P.O.V

The first gun shot rang through our ears, then another one followed. Alfie collapsed to the ground unable to hold his own weight any longer.

Me? I was still in shock. My mouth hung open and my eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

There was a moment of complete silence, no one moved a muscle. A police officer came out from behind the door.

"We need a paramedic." I shut my eyes and turned around not wanting to see anything else.

Alfie was now in tears, still tugging from the officer.

Suddenly a group of officers came out with a familiar face, it was Jerome.

"Jerome!" We all ran to him. When I got a closer look at him, I saw the black eye.

"What happened? Did he hurt you?" Questions flew at him from every direction.

"I will be alright. He is dead."

"Who?" Alfie asked clamping his hand on Jerome's shoulder.

"Rufus. He is dead."

Could this really be? Rufus, dead? It's all over?

"Come on let's get you out of here Jerome." Nina stated and we left the tunnels. When we came upstairs and into the living room, everyone sat with worried looks, but their eyes lit up when they saw Jerome.

"Oh dear!" Trudy exclaimed, pulling Jerome into her arms.

Mara sat on the couch in disbelief and red eyes. She had obviously been crying, but the minute she came back to reality she jumped off the couch and ran to Jerome. She wrapped her arms around his neck. When she pulled away she looked him in the eyes.

"Jerome Clarke. Don't you ever do that to me again."

"I'm sorry." Was all Jerome could say until they touched lips.

"Ok you two, come up for air will ya?" Trudy added jokingly.

Jerome was pulled to the couch and sat next to Mara, never separating their hands.

"What happened?" Victor asked in a monotone voice. Jerome went on to explain what had happened to him and we all listened intently, holding back tears that threatened to come.

"When the shot went off, I ducked and it flew past me. That was when the police came in and shot Rufus." When we heard the door open we thought it was just another officer or paramedic, but instead was Poppy.

"Jerome?" She called out quietly.

When she ran to Jerome, he welcomed her with open arms.

"Your eye." She put her hand near his now completely black eye.

"I am fine."

"We are fine."

A police officer came in and held his hat in his hand.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Rufus flat lined. He has passed away."

It was hard to believe, but we each looked at each other for reassurance.

Rufus was finally dead.

~2 days later~

Jerome's P.O.V

I sat in my room alone. It had all felt like a dream, but I knew it wasn't. It had all really happened. The police left this morning and now the whole house was in a silent mode for once. It was shocking when I head a light knock on my door.

"Who is it?"

"Mara." She called back.

"Come in." She slid open the door and in her hands was a large chocolate cake with candles. Behind her was the rest of the Anubis attendants and Poppy. They began singing "Happy Birthday".

When the song was finished, Mara came closer to my bad and I swung my legs over the bed.

"Well you didn't think we would forget your birthday through this mess. Blow out the candles." I looked around at the smiling faces and felt a smile spread across my face as well.

As I blew out the candles, I knew I had found a real home. Real friends. A real life.

~House of Anubis~

Author's Note: Well it is over... *tear* I hope you liked it! Please feel free to comment on any story you might want me to write. I will write more if you want, it really all depends on you guys. And again thanks so much for reading!